Wednesday Briefs: April 17, 2019

Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

In Pieces #48 (12.2) by Julie Lynn Hayes

The day had been perfect, and so far the night was gearing up to be more of the same. While Salvation rehearsed during the late morning and early afternoon, Ryan took advantage of the time to organize his thoughts for the book, setting up a tentative outline on his computer. Subject to change, of course, should inspiration steer him in a different direction.

When he’d first been contacted about the job with the band, he’d wondered why him, of all the authors in the world. He wasn’t exactly famous, and his area of expertise, such as it was, lay in the realm of fiction, not biographies or whatever this actually would become. Of course he realized now that was all because of Ben, that he was Ben’s first and only choice and his selection was far from accidental, for which he was grateful. Still, he was determined to do the best job he could in this unfamiliar genre. He wanted Ben to be proud of him. He wanted the entire group’s approval, since his book would reflect on them as well.

Roku ushered Arad into the infirmary, fine droplets of blood marking a dotted path from the cargo bay. Being dragged through the ship didn’t sit that well with Arad, but Roku’s determination stomped out Arad’s resistance. Although when Roku picked him up by the waist and wordlessly deposited him on the exam chair mounted to the wall, he considered being difficult.

“It’s not really that bad.” Arad wiped up a wayward line of blood trailing down to his elbow.

Ignoring Arad’s comment, Roku tore open the first aid stash and scavenged what he needed. He lowered the tray hinged to the wall next to Arad and dropped half the kit’s contents on it.

I didn’t know if that was possible. Safety was an illusion. There was always someone or something bigger out there. And the whole universe would be in an uproar after what Freska revealed. “Does it have to be us?” I asked.

“Do you trust anyone else?” he asked me quietly. He rubbed my cheeks with his thumbs.

“No.” I sighed. I didn’t even really trust Anyas, not after his performance. How much had been an act as he tried to stay as true to our original plans as possible of revealing the Elite’s plans to the universe by bouncing the